Who are we?
We are a voluntary network of mothers who work together to collect and sort donations of baby and preschool children's clothing, toys, books and essential nursery equipment.
These items are then re-distributed by Maternal and Child Health Nurses and Family Case Workers from dozens of welfare agencies to families across the city of Melbourne, Australia.
We believe that by reusing and recycling much loved babies and children's gear, we not only share the joy of motherhood with each other, but we save the earth's precious resources too.
Our Story
St Kilda Mums was established in February 2009. We were frustrated by the local opportunity shops who refused to accept our donations of cots and prams and other nursery gear. These items were only a few years old and in top condition but we had no-one to pass them onto. Unwilling to accept that the local tip was the only solution, we tried to track down a local women's shelter. We discovered that no service existed to match the needs of families suffering hardship with families who had something to give. St Kilda Mums was born to fill this gap.
St Kilda Mums has grown to become a network of hundreds of families that respond to requests from local social workers and maternal child health nurses on behalf of families in need. St Kilda Mums is run and staffed solely by volunteers.
Interview by Penny Johnston, Babytalk, ABC Local Radio
"There is nothing that makes you feel more connected with your local community than having a baby. Suddenly you connect with other parents at the park, you meet a new group of people through your maternal child health nurse and mother's group. Just turning up at the local shops with a pram makes you a focus for people you would never have met in any other circumstances. For some of us that translates into wanting to be able to give back in some significant way and one group who have managed it magnificently is a collection of mothers who are known as 'St Kilda Mums'. Find out how they've managed to change their little corner of the world for the better."
Listen to Penny interview St Kilda Mums Peta and Maya.
Quick Links
St Kilda Mums Inc. 2009
